Pallet

ABSTRACT

Pallet comprises a load-supporting deck which is attached to and supported by a frame made up of channel sections arranged so that access is provided for receiving the fork of a lift truck from four directions. The supporting deck is welded to the supporting frame and the channel sections of the frame are welded together.

United States Patent 2,696,356 12/1954 Baumann 108/56 3,006,590 10/1961Hoag 108/56 3,012,747 12/1961 Greene 108/56 3,187,690 6/1965 Desbois108/58 3,520,258 7/1970 Shepherd 108/58 Primary Examiner- Bobby R. GayAssistant Examiner-Glenn O. Finch Attorney-Donald S. Ferito ABSTRACT:Pallet comprises a load-supporting deck which is attached to andsupported by a frame made up of channel sections arranged so that accessis provided for receiving the fork of a lift truck from four directions.The supporting deck is welded to the supporting frame and the channelsections of the frame are welded together.

PATENTEDSEP 71911 $603,273

INVENTOR. WILLIAM J. R/FFE Attorney PALLET BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates generally to material handling equipmentand more particularly to an improved load-bearing pallet especiallysuitable for transportation by forklift trucks.

It is the primary object of my invention to provide a lightweight,heavy-duty pallet including a load-supporting deck which, in turn, iswelded to and supported by a frame made up of channel sections arrangedin a pattern to enable entry of a lift truck fork from any one of anumber of directions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The pallet of the invention comprises aload-supporting deck attached to and mounted on a frame which includes aplurality of substantially similar channel sections. Each of the channelsections is made up of a pair of spaced flanges connected by a web andis disposed with its open side up. The channel sections are arranged toform an enclosed quadrangle with adjacent sections extendingsubstantially normal to each other. The web of each channel sectionextends longitudinally beyond the ends of its flanges and one of each ofthe projecting ends is raised above the plane of the web while the otherprojecting end extends coplanar with the web. The channel sections arearranged with the raised projecting web end of one section resting onand welded to the coplanar projecting web section of the adjacentsection. The channel sections thus from a deck-supporting frame havingtwo pairs of opposed passageways for receiving the fork of a lift truck.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a plan view with a portioncut away for clarity of the pallet of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is an exploded view in perspective of two ofthe channel sectionsmaking up the deck-supporting frame ofthe pallet ofthe invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring more particularly tothe drawing. reference numeral 2 designates a load-supporting deckpreferably made of sheet metal which, in turn, is supported by a frame,designated generally by reference numeral 4. The deck supporting frame 4is made up offour similar channel sections 6 each of which is formedwith parallel flanges 8 connected by a web 10. The channel sections 6are disposed with their open sides up and arranged to form an enclosedquadrangle with adjacent sections extending normal to each other. Theweb 10 of each channel section extends longitudinally beyond the ends ofits flanges 8 with one projecting end 12 being raised above the plane ofthe web and the other projecting end 14 extending coplanar with the web.As best shown in FIG. 1 and 3, the channel sections 6 are arranged withthe raised projecting web end 12 of one section resting on and connectedwith the coplanar projecting web end 14 of the adjacent section so thatthe channel sections form a frame having two pairs of opposedpassageways 16 for receiving the fork of a lift truck (not shown).

The upper edges of each of the flanges 8 of each channel section areprovided with aligned transverse notches 18 for accommodating a portionof a tie band (not shown) therein. If desired the deck 2, whichoverhangs the supporting frame 4 around its periphery, may be providedwith spaced open end radially extending notches 20, one above aprojection of each pair of notches in the flanges of each channelsection of the frame 4. The notches l8 and 20 make it possible for a tieband to be threaded under the deck of the pallet and then be broughtaround the top of the load on the pallet, tensioned and 'oinedend-to-end to secure the load on the fpallet deck.

hile l have shown but one embodiment o my invention,

other adaptations and modifications may be made without departing fromthe scope of the following claims.

lclaim:

l. A pallet comprising a load-supporting deck, a frame attached to andsupporting said deck, said supporting frame including a plurality ofsubstantially similar channel sections, each of said channel sectionsincluding a pair of spaced flanges connected by a web, said channelsections being disposed with their open sides up and arranged to form anenclosed quadrangle with adjacent sections extending substantiallynormal to each other, the web of each channel section extendinglongitudinally beyond the ends of its flanges, one of each of saidprojecting ends being raised above the plane of the web and the otherprojecting end extending coplanar with the web, said channel sectionsbeing arranged with the raised projecting web end of one section restingon and connected with said coplanar projecting web end of the adjacentsection, said channel sections thus forming two pairs of opposedpassageways for receiving the fork of a lift truck.

2. Apparatus as defined by claim I in which said deck and saiddeck-supporting frame are made of metal andsaid deck is welded to saiddeck-supporting frame.

3. Apparatus as defined by claim 2 in which the channel sections of saiddeck-supporting frame are welded together at their adjoining ends.

4. Apparatus as defined by claim 1 in which the upper edges of theflanges of each of the channel sections are provided with alignedtransverse notches intermediate the ends thereof adapted to accommodatea portion ofa tie band therein.

5. Apparatus as defined by claim 4 in which said deck overhangs saidsupporting frame around its periphery, and said deck is formed withspaced open end radially extending notches in the periphery thereof, onesubstantially above a projection of each pair of notches in the flangesof each channel section of said deck-supporting frame.

1. A pallet comprising a load-supporting deck, a frame attached to andsupporting said deck, said supporting frame including a plurality ofsubstantially similar channel sections, each of said channel sectionsincluding a pair of spaced flanges connected by a web, said channelsections being disposed with their open sides up and arranged to form anenclosed quadrangle with adjacent sections extending substantiallynormal to each other, the web of each channel section extendinglongitudinally beyond the ends of its flanges, one of each of saidprojecting ends being raised above the plane of the web and the otherprojecting end extending coplanar with the web, said channel sectionsbeing arranged with the raised projecting web end of one section restingon and connected with said coplanar projecting web end of the adjacentsection, said channel sections thus forming two pairs of opposedpassageways for receiving the fork of a lift truck.
 2. Apparatus asdefined by claim 1 in which said deck and said deck-supporting frame aremade of metal and said deck is welded to said deck-supporting frame. 3.Apparatus as defined by claim 2 in which the channel sections of saiddeck-supporting frame are welded together at their adjoining ends. 4.Apparatus as defined by claim 1 in which the upper edges of the flangesof each of the channel sections are provided with aligned transversenotches intermediate the ends thereof adapted to accommodate a portionof a tie band therein.
 5. Apparatus as defined by claim 4 in which saiddeck overhangs said supporting frame around its periphery, and said deckis formed with spaced open end radially extending notches in theperiphery thereof, one substantially above a projection of each pair ofnotches in the flanges of each channel section of said deck-supportingframe.